Fluid pump and compressor



Mar. 27, A19.23.

A. G. L. NEIGHBOUR FLUID PUMP ,'AND COMPRESSOR INI/Euro1?.- .LJVs/ Bow? `FTW. v

Patented Mar. 27, 1923.

enana ARTHUR G. L. NEIGHBoUa, or BRIGHTON, vrcronra, AUSTRALIA;

FLUID PUMP AND COMPRESSOR.

Application filed December 23, 19530.y

T all lw Imm t may concern.'

Be it lrnown that l, ARTHUR Grenen LLOYD NnIGHnoUR, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Brightomin the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia. have invented new and useful Imw provements i-n and Relating to Fluid Pumps and Compressors, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in pumps and compressors of that type wherein the operative piston or plunger is fur nished with a transverse guide-way in which is slidably fitted a cross-head or die-block rotatably mounted on a crank-shaft arranged in a plane at right angles to the axis of the piston. Rotary motion of the crankshaft effects endwise movements of the piston or plunger by' means of the crosshead or dieblock and the latter is caused by the transverse guide-way to reciprocate axially therein.

In prior machines of this character, there has been employed a piston or plunger which was provided with a slotted or bored guideway having La lateral opening at the side on which the operative shaft was located. This lateral opening was provided to accommodate the crank-pin and it extended from end to end of the guide-way. The metal on one side of the guide-way was in this manner completely removed, while the metal on the other side of the guide-way alone served to connect together the oppo site ends of the .piston or plunger. Pistons or 'plungers of this construction were necessarily weak, especially when made of considerable size and of cast metal, and although serviceable fonsmall pumps they have proved to be unsuitable vin their application to pumps having cyllinders, the diameters of which exceeded moderate dimensions.

Moreover, inthe constructions referred to, the pistons have been cut away to provide clearance for the crank arms, or the latter have been arranged in recesses formed in the cylinders, thus necessitating the use of overhung crank pins of undue length.

Furthermore, in prior `constructions the operative crank-shaft has been supported on and extended laterally from one side only of the pump or compressor and the crank employed has been of overhung design.

-Salient features of the present invention reside vin the provision of yapiston of hollow Serial No. 432,842.

and light construction having a guide-way, preferably diametrically disposed therein, of cylindrical form and having members connecting its oppositeends disposed onboth sides of such guide-way: a hollow piston so constructed as to permit the bearing or bearings of the operative shaft to extend into its interior and to entirely accommodate therein the cranked portion of this shaft; a piston and cross-head of a. construction and arrangement permitting the operative shaft, if so required, to be supported in bearings on opposite sides of the machine, and'to extend laterally on one or on both sides thereof: a piston having a transversely bored guide-way and admission ports or openings extending from the guide-way to the opposite ends 0f the piston, such admission ports or openings being alternately yopened and closed .by the cross-head as it reciprocates in the guide-way: a hollow cross-head adapted to hold oil or grease for lubricating purposes, and means for automatically lubricating the operative parts of the pump or compressor by a mechanical conveyor functioning to elevatey lubricant from a chamberfduring the operation of the machine, and means. for the effective distribution` and circulation of the lubricant so elevated. J f

Reference being had to the accompanying explanatory drawings: .Figure l is a view in longitudinal section of a pump or compressoraccording to the `invention and `wherein the operative shaft extends laterally on one sideonly of the cylinder.

Figure 2 is a view in` transverse sectio taken on the line 2-2 in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a view in horizontal section of my improved pump or` compressor, wherein the operative shaftextends on both sides `of the cylinder.

Figure l isa view in longitudinal section of the cylinder and operative parts of the pump or compressor shown in Figure 3. In these views the numeral `5 designates a pump cylinder and 6 a lateral` bearing support projecting from the cylinder, preferably at or about `the middle point of its length. This bearing support may project from `one `sicle only of the cylinder as illustrated by the Figure 2 construction, or` alternatively, two bearing supports 6in coaxial alignment with each other may be employed and eXtend on opposite sides of the cylinder as is shown in Figure 3. The cylinder 5 may have its ends furnished with detachable covers 7, or, if preferred, it may be closed at one end by a cover integrally formed therewith and at its opposite end by a detachable cover 7.

Slidably fitted in the cylinder and adapted to reciprocate therein is a hollow piston 8, within which is a transversely extending member 9. This member 9 is preferably tubular in section, integrally formed with the piston 8 and diametrically disposed therein. The interior of said member 9 is bored cylindrically, therebyv forming a guide-Way 10 of cylindrical form extending diametrically through the piston and terminating in openings in the periphery thereof.

A slotted opening 11 is formed through one side of the tubular member 9 and parallel to the axis thereof as shown in Figure 2, or slotted o-penings 11 are similarly formed through opposite sides thereof as shown in Figure 3. Slotted openings 12 are likewise made yin the portions ofy the walls of the piston 8 contiguous to the o-penings 11, and these openings 12 are arranged with their longer axes parallel to the axis of the piston 8. Said openings 11 and 12 are symmetrically disposed about the central horizontalV and vertical planes of the piston 8 as will be readily understood from Figures 1 and 4.

An operative shaft 13 furnished with crank arm 14 and crank-pin 15 is rotatably mounted inbearings 16 housed in bearing supports 6, which are of sufficient internal diameter to readily permit the crank-arm 14 to be passed therethrough. The openings 11 and 12 arelikewise made of suliicient width to permit the crank arm 14 and crank pin 15 being placed into position within the piston 8. When the operative shaft is placed in position the cranked portion thereof comprising arm 14 (Figure 1) or arms 14 (Figure 3) and crank pin 15 are entirely disposed ivithin the piston 8.

The bearings 16 are extended through the openings 12 and project into the interior of the piston 8, thereby effectively supporting the cranked portion of the operative shaft 13. Said openings 12 are made of suflicient length to ensure that their ends do not strike upon the bearings 16 during the reciprocation of the piston 8.

The parts 17 of the walls of the piston 8 remaining between the openings 12 and the tubular member 9 serve to connect together the opposite ends of said piston. The piston 8 is thereby rendered stronger and can be made more lightly than pistons of known construction wherein the side member facing the operative shaft is completely slottedthrough and the metalen the sie@ 'ofthe giurie-,Way remet@ from the operat'ive shaft alone serves to connect together the opposite ends of the piston. The space between the tubular member 9 and the wall of the piston provides ample room for the crank arm 14 to rotate.. This construction of" piston, moreover, permits the crank shaft tok be extended through the cylinder 5 and to be supported on both sides thereof, thereby rendering possible the compact arrangement which is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. v

Rotatably mounted on the crank pin 15 and slidably fitting said guide-way 10 is a cylindrical cross-head or die-block 18 which is carried around in a. circular path by the crank-pin 15 and restrained by the guideway 10 reciprocates4 axially therein. This cross-head 18, when employed, with an overhung crank pin as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, may he constructed of a single piece of metal. lf a'crank-shaft as shown in Figures 3 and 4 be used, it is necessary to make said cross-head in two parts 19 and 20, to facilitate its assembly on the crank pin 15. In order to accurately align said cross-head parts, one of them 19 is furnished with spigots 21 accurately fitting recesses 22 formed in the other part 20. When the two parts 19 and 2O have been mounted upon the crank-pin 15 bolts 23 or like connecting means are passed through said parts and sel curely fix them together.

The cross-head 18 in addition to effecting reciprocation of the piston 8 also functions as a slide valve for controlling the admission of fluid alternately to opposite ends of the cylinder 5 whichI constitute the working chambers thereof. For this purpose conduits 24, preferably tubularin section and integrally formed with the piston 8. extend between said tubular member 9 and the ends 25 of said piston and terminate at their inner ends in ports or openings 26 in the guidenvay 10. These conduits may be located on opposiltc sides ofthe axis of the piston 8 as shown in Figure 1, or they maybe arranged coaxially therewith as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.

Fluid is conveniently admitted to the cylinder 5 at some point disposed on the transverse central plane thereof. Preferably it is caused to enter the cylinder 5 through an orifice 2l (see Figure 2) which by means of the slotted openings 12 coinnninicates at all times directly with the interior of the piston 8 and thereby with said ports 26 through the openings 11.

For some applications of the invention an orifice 28 may be conveniently arranged at the upper part of the cylinder 5 as is shown in Figures 1 and 2 and a channel 29, (indicated by broken lines in Figure 2) provided to furnish means of communicaicc ilo

tionvbetween said orifice 28 and the opening i2 when the cross-head 18 occupies its and 34.

central uppermost position as shown in lfliiruresl and 2. i

Discharge valves oli approved con struction are provided at opposite ends oli' the cylinder 5 and may conveniently be located in the covers I either centrally as shou'n in Figure 3 or at other approved points as illustratedin Figures 1 and It will be understood that said valves 30 may7 it desired, be mounted. on the ends of the cylinder 5 at any convenient parts thereof.

ln operation, the cross-head 18'r`ecipro- Cates in the `guide-mty 10 thereby opening and closing` thevports 26 and alternatelyadmitting iluid to opposite ends of the cylinder 5. Movement ot' the cross-head so timed that at each reversal of 'the motion of the piston 8 the conduit 2e leading te the Workingchamber of the cylinder 5 from which fluid has just been expelled is rapidly opened, and the other or opposite conduit 24- is With equal rapidity closed. During` the stroke of the piston unrestricted. flow is maintained into the chamber being` filled with fluid, While leakage from the chamber being evacuated is prevented by the pressure between the cross-headlS and said rinde-way 10. Vl'hen the pump or compressor is intended 'foruse with air and non-corrosive gases and liquids this system of admitting fluid to the Working' chambers of the cylinder is preferred owing to the high efficiency thereby attained. In the event of corrosive fluidsk beinp` transferred by the pump it is desirable that they should be prevented as much as is possible 'from contact With the operative parts. For this and like purposes the conduits .2l are dispensed Withl and suction valves S1 of any approved construction are litted in the cylinder covers 7 as indicated by broken ,lines in Figure 1, or, if preferred, they may be located at convenient parts oiI the cylinder ends. j f

" lWhen the Operative shaft 1S is located on one side only oit' the cylinder" 5, as is illustrated )in Figuresl and 2. it is necessary to 'extend the bearingr support 'G outwardly l'or some distance to obtain a bearing-r 1G oit suilicient length for said shalt. The space below said bearing 16 yis iiorined into a chamber 32 the lower part ot `which is einployed as a container for lubricant. This chamber 32 extends below the cylinder connertinpr with the central portion thereo'l as shown in Figures' 1 and 27 and it is furnished with filler and drain plugs An endless chain conveyor havinn its upper portion accommodated in a recess 36 formed in the bearing` 16 is employed to elevate lubricant from the chamber 32. This chain is passed over the `operative shalt 13 and is freely suspended therefrom. The

Aby Adetachable covers 11:8. 'p

To assemble a pump wherein a tivo part lower portion ol the chain is suspended in the lubricant contained in said chamber 32. 1n operation the chainelcvates lubricant ,to the recess 86 from which ducts 37 lead to an auxiliary reservoir 38 formed by reducingv in diameter the central portion of said bearing 1G. il rent 39 permits air to readily escape from said reservoir inorder that the flow of lubricant into kthe latter Will not be impeded. Holes extending; upwardly from thejreservoir 38 supply lubricant to the operative shaft 13. e y

The reservoir-38 ismaintained iull of oil up t0 the level ot the axis of the shaft 3. et this level holes L1-1 on opposite sides of the bearing 11S conduct excess `lubricant to the inner end thereof. Some oi" the escaping` oil passes throughahole L12 in the crank arm` and lubricates the crank pin 15.

The remainder ot the escaping oil lalls into the interior of `the piston 8 `and passing' through holes #i3 lubricates the guideovay 10. The oil `alter lubricatingthe piston finally gravitates to the chamber 32 to be again elevated bythe chain conveyor 35.

In 'this manner a continuous'circulation of lubricant is maintained whereby the `operative parts of the pump are eliectively lubricated. y

. ln order that the chainconveyor may be conveniently insertedin position an `opening all is made in the outer end of the chainber 3:1. This opening le is closed by an extension oil? a flange lo WithWhich said bearing' 16 is furnished and by means ot' which the latter is held in position.

To assemble the operative parts of a pump oit the construction illustrated by Figures I1 and 2, the cross-head .18 is placed in the piston 8 and the latter is brought into its middle position in the cylinder 5. The opera-` tive sha-lit 13 ispassed` through the bearing stolpert G and the cranlrpin 15 is inserted into the cross-head 18. The bearing 16 is yiinally placed over the Shaft 13 and. is then.

pushed into the bearing support 6@ ln sor-ne constriuztions otthe invention7 it may be` necessary or desirable to .make the .lennth ol the cross-head 18 greater than `the dia ieter or' the piston 8 in which case there is n sullicient size to permit the cross-head beingv passed tl'ieretlnfoug'h into the guide-way 10. llhen a two-part crosshead, as shown in Figure e7 `empleyed, it is necessary to `lurnish an aperture as 47 in the cylinder 5 to enable assembly ofthe eros-head parts being-l effected rlhese apertures 47 may be closed cross-head is used7 the lower member 20 ot the latter having,` bolts 23 therein is placed in the guidefway 10. The piston 8 isbrought into .its central position in said cylinder', whereupon the `operative shattis inserted Vde in the cylinder o an aperture 17 ol'` iio into the bearing support 16 and is passed therethrough into the piston 8. The upper cross-head member 19 is then passed through the' aperture 47 and is bolted to the lower member 2O and secured to the crank pin 15 as hereinbefore described.

ln the construction ot pump having centrally disposed conduits 24, it is necessary to provide the cross-head 18 with slotted openings 49 in order that the ports 26 may be open 'throughout the stroke of the piston 8. Similar slotted openings are employed when cross-heads 18 ot considerable. length are required for use as will be readily understood.

1n -Figure 1 the piston is assumed to be moving in the direction oi the arrows 2. Fluid is then being expelled from the lett hand end oin the cylinder 5 and iuid is entering the right hand cylinder end through the lower conduit 24. the direction of rotation be reversed, the pump willnot itune-v tion unless the conduits Q4 are brought into positions indicated by broken lines in Figure 1. l

' l/Vhen the pump is required tor operation in either direction a piston having openings 11 on each side ot the guide-way. is used. Thecrank-pin 15 may then be inserted into the guide-way 10 from either side and the pump may be adjusted to run in either direction merely by turning the piston on its axis within the cylinder 5 to locate the conduits 24 in required 4relative positionsas will be readily understood. i

Similarly by axiallyturning the crosshead 18 the openings 49 therein can be adjusted into positions to function etliciently when the directionot movement ot the piston 8 is reversed.

Pumps constructed as described have been iound to be highly eticient when employed as compressors or vacuum` pumps. For vacuum pumps or for compressors operating at low pressures the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is preferably employed. For compressors operating at higher pressures the construction shown in Figures 3 and 4 is preferred. 1n this construction the crank-shaft 13 is rigidly supporte-d and is well able to withstand the heavy stresses brought upon it in operation. The cylinder 5. covers 7, valves 30 and bearings 16 can be eiiiciently 'cooled by water-jacketiug` as iudicated by the numeral 50. rllhe entering air in its passage through the hollow piston etfectively cools the same and contributes to `the etlicient operation ot the machine.

Openings 51 and 52 are provided through' which water respectively enters and flows away from the `iacket 50.

When used as a vacuum pump or as a pump for liquids, the vessel to be exhausted or the source of supply is connected to the inletorice ot the cylinder 5. 1n order to prevent ingress oi: air along the operative infimes shaft 13, the outer end of the bearing 16 can be fitted with a cupped leather, or approved .packing for the prevention of leakage.

rEhe operative shaft 13 has been described as being supported in sleeve type bearings, but it is not restricted thereto as adjustable bearings may be itted and for special purposes ball-bearings may be employed.

Vihat l do claim is 1. ln a pump or compressor, a cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder. to separate the cylinder into a pair ot chambers one at each end of the piston, said piston comprising a cylinder longitudinally slotted in the side wall, a guide-way extending through the piston transversely ot' the slotted portion and longitudinally slotted, an operative shaft extending through the slotted portion of the piston having a crank to engage in the guide-way, a member rotatably mounted on the crank and reciprocable in the guide-way operative to reciprocate the piston by the rotation of the shaft, and means controlling the admission and expulsion of fluid to and from the cylinder during the reciprocation of the piston.

2. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow longitudinally slotted piston iitting the cylinder,l a transverse slotted guide-way in the piston, a shaft extending through the piston and guide slots having a crank to engage kinthe guide, acrosshead rotatably mounted on the crank and slidably fitting the guide-way, and valves controlling the admission and expulsion of tluidto and from the cylinder.

3. A pump or compressor having a hollow piston, a cylindrically bored guide-way diametrically disposed in said piston. slotted axial openings in said piston and in said guide-way, piston parts located on both sides ofV said guide-way and between said openings connecting the opposite ends of sai hollow piston, and conduits extending from said guide-way to the ends of said piston.

4. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder,

a tubular guide-way transversely disposed in said piston, a rotatably mounted crosshead slidably fitting said guide-way, conduits extending from the guide-way to the opposite ends of the piston and coacting with said cross-head to control the admission oi fluid to the cylinder, and discharge valves in said cylinder.

5. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder, a cylindrical guide-way formed in thepist0n and diametrically disposed therein, ccntrally disposed slotted axial openings in said piston and in said guide-way, a bearing on the cylinder, an operative shaft in the bearing, acrank on the operative shaft, a cylindrical cross-head rotatably mounted on the crank and' slidably fitting the guideway, and valves for the admission and expulsion of fluid to and from the cylinder.

6. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder, a cylindrical guide-way diametrically disposed in said piston, slotted axial openings in said piston and in said guide-way, a laterally projecting bearing support on the' side of the cylinder, a bearing fitting said support, an operative shaft in the bearing, a crank on said shaft, a cross-head rotatably mounted on the crank and slidably fitting the guide-way, an inlet orifice on said cylinder, conduits extending from the guide-Way to the ends of the piston, and coacting with said cross-head to control the admission of fiuid to the cylinder, and discharge valves in said cylinder. y

7. A pum) or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder, a guide-way in the piston, slotted axial openings in said piston and in said guide- Way, an operative shaft extending through said slotted openings and rotatably supported on opposite sides of the cylinder, a reciprocable element slidably fitted in said guide-Way and rotatably mounted on said shaft, and means cont-rolling the admission and expulsion of fiuid to and from said cylinder.

8. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston in the cylinder, a guide-Way diametrically disposed in the piston, slotted axial openings in said piston and in said guide-Way, co-axially aligned bearing supports extending on opposite sides of the cylinder, bearings fitted in said supports, an operative crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and extending transversely through said cylinder, a crosshead rotatably mounted on the crank-shaft and slidably fitted in said guide-way, an inlet orifice communicating with the cylinder, conduits extending from the guide-way to the ends of the piston and co-acting with said cross-head to control the admission of fluid to the cylinder, and discharge valves in said cylinder.

9. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder, a guide-way diametrically disposed in said piston, slotted axial openings in said piston andr in said guide-way, co-axially aligned bearing supports formed integrally with and extending on opposite sides of the cylinder, bearings fitting said supports, an operative crank-shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings and extending transversely through said cylinder, a two-part cross-head rotatably mounted 'on the crank-shaft and slidably fitted in said guide-way, means for aligning and means for connecting the two parts of the cross-head, an aperture in the cylinder, a detachable cover on the aperture,

an orifice admitting fluid to the cylinder, conduits extending from said guide-Way to the opposite ends of the pistonfand co-acting with said cross-head to control the admission of' iiuid to the working portions of the cylinder, and discharge valves in said cylinder,

l0.4 A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston in the cylinder, a transversely disposed guide-way in the piston, an operative shaft, a cranked member formed o n the operative shaft and located in said piston, a rbearing support formed integrally with said cylinder and of a size to permit of the passage therethrough of said cranked member, openings formed in said piston and in said guide-way extending longitudinally thereof permitting the entrance of said cranked member into said piston and guideway, and a bearing in said support and extending through the slotted opening in said piston.

l1. A pump or compressor having a cylinder, a hollow piston in the cylinder, a transversely disposed guide-way in the piston, an operative shaft, a cranked member formed on said shaftand located in said piston, co-axially aligned bearing supports positioned on opposite sides ot' said cylinder and of a sizepermitting the passage therethrough of said cranked `member, axial openings formed in said piston and in said guide-way and made ofl dimensions to admit said cranked member, and bearings fitting said supports and extendingy through the slotted openings in said piston.

12. A pumpor compressor, having a cylinder, a hollow piston in the cylinder, a guideway in the piston, a laterally extending bearing support on the cylinder, a lubricant chamber below said support, a bearing in said support, a crank-shaft in the bearing,

an auxiliary reservoir in said bearing, means operated by the crank-shaft for elevating lubricant from said chamber to said reservoir, and means for distributing lubricant from said reservoir to said crank-shaft, rto said piston, and to said guide-wayc 13. A pump or compressor havinga cylinder, a hollow piston fitting the cylinder, a guide-way in the piston, .a slotted axial opening in said piston, a laterally extending bearing support formed on `the cylinder, a chamber Yfor lubricantv below said support and extending beneath said cylinder, a bearing fitting said support and extending through said axial opening into said piston, a crank-,shaft yin the bearing, any auxiliary reservoir in the bearing, a recess in said bearing, an endless chain depending from iso said shaft and having its upper portion located insaid recess, an *opening in said chamber, a flange formed on said bea-ring and covering'said opening, ducts extending from seid recess to Seid reservoir, an air vent', holes connecting Seid reservoir With seid crankshaft, outflow holes between the reservoir and the end of the bearing Within said piston, and holes connecting the interior of 'the pieton with said guide-Way.

guide-Way, holes in said. cross-head, an aperture in said cylinder, and e cover on said aperture. l

15. A pump or compressor` havingr a cylveyor elevatinglubricent from. said chaln.-

ber, an auxiliary lubricant reservoir to which lubricant elevated b v the conveyor from. the first lubricant chamber ie delivered, and means for distributing` lubricant from said latter reservoir to the operative parts o'f the pump.

In testimony whereof l :Ll-HX niysignature in presence of two Witnesses.

ARTHUR e, t, mieeneun. Witnesses:

JUNE SYMES, JAMES H. ANDERSON. 

